Autumn’s Fire: A Yoga, Ayurvedic Massage and Nature Retreat at the Quadrangle Farmstead in Kent, from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 November 2016

Bathe in the beauty of nature’s last dance before Winter. With energy-holding yoga, warming Ayurvedic massage, and seasonal food.

With those bright embers of Summer gone, join us at the Quadrangle Farmstead this November as we again mark the dance of the seasons. This time the glory of Autumn -and our journey toward Winter.

Autumn is one of the prettiest seasons, and the Kent countryside is the perfect backdrop for us to see the radical changes and the rich colours in the wilderness, and consider what this means for us.

In the lovely cosy Granary room, and the beautiful fields, streams and meadows around the farm, we’ll have Transformational Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, Ayurvedic massage and relaxation, poetry, delicious seasonal food, walks, bonfires, and ceremonial intention setting and letting go.

“Now Autumn’s fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.” ― William Allingham, Day and Night Songs

With our busy lives, we often forget and rarely get to see that the natural world is going through some big changes right now. As colours fade, energy is stored, and hibernation prepared. We’d like to give you the opportunity to observe in a beautiful, quiet and relaxed setting, away from the hustle and bustle, to slow down and consider how these outside changes are also inside changes.

We invite you once more to the Quadrangle Farmstead – you could say it’s our home from home. But as the days become colder and the nights draw in, we’ll move upstairs to the Granary above the hay barn – a beautiful setting for our smaller group of 12, with log burners to keep us warm.

Each day will consist of a gentle rhythm of rejuvenating yoga – Transformational, Hatha and Vinyasa – fireside intentions and meditations and walks in nature. During the retreat you will receive a 40 minute Ayurvedic massage with Steve, helping you to unwind, relax and find your flow. We will share 3 delicious locally sourced vegetarian meals each day, and you will have time for walks and quiet contemplation. We’ll practice our restorative and energy-holding yoga around the wood burning fire and share this warm and cosy space for meditations, discussions and a movie.

It’s up to you how much you participate; the space is yours to hold as you wish.

The Quadrangle is the perfect place to quietly observe and reflect on Mother Nature, in a beautiful rustic farmhouse setting, away from the hustle and bustle, to slow down and connect. There are many beautiful elements with which to enjoy our stay; the Granary for our group practices and communal dining, a separate room for your massage session, the Shepherds Barn with sofas and wood burning stove to put your feet up with a cup of tea, the garden for fireside meditation and contemplation, a living permaculture forest garden, and a stream running through for some wild dipping! The hills and vales of the Pilgrims Way are in reach just a short walk cross-country.

It is the perfect setting to look away from the outside chaos and journey into our inner peace. In doing so we can become better aware of who we are and where we are headed.

Timings

Arrive from 3pm onwards on Friday
The retreat ends on Sunday afternoon after lunch

Cost

Dorm – £255 (£215 early bird)
Sharing twin or double room – £315 (£270 early bird)
Private room – £375 (£315 early bird)
Own camper van – £215 (£185 early bird)
Early bird 15% discount if booked before 1st October.
Please don’t let financial difficulties be a barrier to you coming to this retreat – please contact
us to discuss your situation and see how we can get you here with us!

Some previous retreat feedback

“Thank you so much to the whole team for truly nourishing and nurturing me.”

“Fantastic weekend. Great combination of relaxation, wonderful food, incredible massage and lovely people. I will be back to this gem of a location.”

“Thank you so very much for your incredible calming energy. You are a beautiful teacher and I would love to bottle you up and take you home!”

“This yoga retreat has been the BEST! Thank you all so much.”

Katy

I studied yoga and meditation under the direct guidance of Swami Vidyanand at the SriMa School of Transformational Yoga in India. I’ve been practising since 1999, leading me to deeper studies with different forms of yoga over the years including Transformational, Scaravelli-inspired, Sivananda and Yoga for Anxiety and Depression. I take an integral approach to teaching – incorporating physical postures (asanas), breathing practices (pranayama) and dhyana (mantra meditation), as well as meditation and deep relaxation (yoga nidra). Connecting body, breath, heart, mind and soul has brought an awareness and inner stillness I didn’t believe was possible before. I love being in this space of teacher and eternal student, and hope we can share the magic of yoga too. Take your focus inward, breathe and become present to your intention. All-comers welcome – from absolute beginners to yoga masters! As well as sharing my love of yoga through classes, workshops, retreats and trainings in the UK and abroad, I am a part-time project manager for non-profits and social enterprises. I am Reiki level 1 qualified and am currently training in Tantra massage, which complement the yoga beautifully. I love being in nature, connecting with my nature, and when I’m in the city I love getting around on my bike. facebook.com/mahayogaschool

Steven

Before Ayurvedic Yoga Massage (AYM) I trained in sports massage with a diploma from LSSM at Regents College London. Then, under the guidance of James Winstanley -pioneer of Ayurvedic Yoga Massage in the west and student of its creator in India Master Kusum Modak, I did the AYM Diploma. Over the last few years I’ve been building experience working with clients in London and the southwest. Now focussing on AYM and working with dancers, yoga teachers, personal trainers, cabaret performers, runners, and cyclists. As well as massage, I love running, old things, philosophy, festivals, reading, cooking, conversation, victorian stuff, ghost stories, carpentry, and films…. facebook.com/aym.steve

The Quadrangle

The Quadrangle is a large Victorian model farmstead built in 1870 near Shoreham in Kent. Part of it is owned and managed by The Quadrangle Trust which is run as a centre for sustainable living and the creative arts. The garden runs down through an orchard to the River Darent and a field and small woodland beyond. It’s setting in the valley is extraordinarily rural and peaceful in that it is only 20 miles from Piccadilly Circus as the crow flies. thequadrangletrust.com

Ayurvedic Yoga Massage

Ayurvedic Yoga Massage is a unique, relaxing treatment for the whole body, combining deep tissue massage, coordinated breath-work and yoga stretching. Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of natural healing. AYM combines deep tissue massage with coordinated breath-work and yoga stretching. Its founder Master Kusum Modak has combined traditional Ayurvedic Massage with yoga adjustments learnt directly from BKS Iyengar. It’s performed on a floor mat allowing for a full range of stretching. In addition; the deep tissue massage dissolves physical tension, while the assisted stretches and breath exercises realign the body and stimulate the natural flow of energy. Organic sesame oil (a tri-dosha balancer), and ground calamus root (invigorates the skin / stimulates the nervous system) are used in the treatment.

Transformational Yoga

Transformational Yoga is a truly integral yoga that goes far beyond just physical exercise. While offering a complete approach to wellbeing, it takes into account physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of health. It functions on a deeper level to stimulate kundalini energy to move up through the chakras, purifying and awakening the chakras. In this heart-centred practice we combine physical postures (asanas), breathing practices (pranayama) and dhyana (mantra meditation), as well as meditation and deep relaxation (yoga nidra), to purify your body, balance your emotions, heal your heart, focus your mind, and increase your spiritual wellbeing, helping you to let go and connect with your true nature.